Mahisha (mountain of Śālmala Dvīpa)
Mahisha
Mahisha is a mountain of Śālmala-dvīpa, one of the seven dvīpas of the earth. It is the sixth of the seven kulācalas (chief mountains) of that dvīpa, which bear gems within them. Lomaharshaṇa names it in the Brahma Purāṇa when he describes to the munis the dvīpas beyond Jambūdvīpa.
In Śālmala-dvīpa
The lord of Śālmala-dvīpa is the hero Vapushmān, and seven varsha mountains are known by the names of his sons: Śveta, Harita, Jīmūta, Rohita, Vaidyuta, Mānasa and Suprabha. The dvīpa is surrounded by the ocean of sugar-cane juice and is twice the measure of Plaksha-dvīpa.
It has seven kulācalas, bearing gems within them, and seven rivers. The mountains are Kumuda, Unnata, Valāhaka, Droṇa, Kaṅka, Mahisha and Kakudmān; on Droṇa-giri grow great medicinal herbs. The rivers are the Śroṇī, Toyā, Vitṛshṇā, Candrā, Śukrā, Vimocanī and Nivṛtti, and by mere remembrance they take away pāpas. The varshas are Śveta, Lohita, Jīmūta, Harita, Vaidyuta, Mānasa and Suprabha.
The four varṇas live there, known by their colours: the kapila (honey-coloured) are the brāhmaṇas, the aruṇa (red) the kshatriyas, the pīta (yellow) the vaiśyas and the kṛshṇa (dark) the śūdras. Those who perform yajñas there worship Vishṇu, serving him in the yajña in the form of Vāyu. The devas are present in this most lovely dvīpa, which takes its name from the śālmala tree (the silk-cotton tree) that stands there.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 20
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 20